Tape-measure.



PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

J. MOLEAN- TAPE MEASURE.

APPLICATION FILED um: 10, 1904.

MI'TORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MoLEAN, OF NEWARK, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WHITE- HEAD & HOAGCOMPANY, OF NEIVARK, NEIV JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEI/V JERSEY.

TAPE-MEASURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN MoLEAN, of Newark, in the county of Essex, inthe State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements inTape-Measures, of which the following, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in tape-measures, and refers moreparticularly to the reel and its inclosing case.

The primary object is to adapt the case and reel for advertisingdifferent articles of manufacture by providing the reel with atape-retaining plate which is a miniature or fullsized representation ofsome article of manu facturesuch, for instance, as a saw, as shown inthe present drawingsand to make the adjacent side of the casetransparent, so that the retaining-plate representing the article ofmanufacture may be readily seen through the transparent side of thecase.

Other objects and uses will appear in the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedtape-measure, showing the transparent side of the case. Fig. 2 is asectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the detached reel. Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views, respectively,of the transparent side and its metallic supportingring. Fig. 6 is asimilar view of a reinforcing ring or guard for the transparent side ofthe case.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

The'inolosing case or shell consists, essentially, of a circular band 1of celluloid or other suitable material and opposite sides or ends 2 and3, which fit over and upon the opposite ends of the cylindrical band 1.This band is formed with an opening 4 in its periphery, through whichone end of a tape 5 extends, the other end of said tape being wound upona reel 6, which is actuated by a coil-spring 7 within the reel.

The rear wall or cap 2 of the case consists of a metal disk 8, having amarginal inturned flange 9, and upon the outer face of this disk 8 isplaced a covering 10 of celluloid or similar material, which has itsmarginal edges turned over and inwardly upon the marginal flange 9 ofthe disk 8, as best seen in Fig. 2, and after the cap 2 is thus formedit is fitted upon the. adjacent end of the circular band 1, so that theoverturned edges of the celluloid covering 10 are impinged between theflange 9 and outer face of the band 1 and is usually cemented to holdthe parts together.

A second metal disk or plate 11 is fitted within and against the disk 8,and portion's'of this latter disk 11 are cut and turned at substantiallyright angles to the disk to form a split hub or post 12, upon which thereel 6 is journaled and to which one end of the coilspring 7 is secured,the other end of said coilspring being secured to the reel, so as torotate the reel to wind up the tape.

The opposite side or cap 3 of the inclosing case comprises a metal ring13, having a central opening 14 and its marginal edgesbent inwardly toform an annular flange 15.

A covering 16, of transparent celluloid or similar transparent material,is fitted upon and against the outer face of the ring 13 and across theopening 14 and has its marginal edges turned over and inwardly upon theflange 15, so that when the cap 3 is placed upon the adjacent end of theband 1 the inturned edges of the celluoid covering are impinged betweenthe flange 15 and periphery of the band 1 and is also cemented to theband.

A filling 17 of paper or other suitable material is interposed betweenthe celluloid cover 16 and adjacent face of the metallic ring 13 and hasits central portion cut away to correspond to the opening 14, so as toafford an unobstructed view through the transparent covering 16 andopening 14 into the interior of the case.

A reinforcing ring or guard 18 is placed against the inner face of themetallic ring 13 to reinforce or strengthen the case, and its centralportion is depressed toward the reel 6 and is formed with a centralopening 19 of slightly-greater diameter than the reel, the depressedportion forming a guard to prevent displacement of the tape while beingwound and unwound from the reel. This reel preferably consists of ametal cup having a retaining plate or disk 20 across its open end, andboth the bottom of the cup and the retaining-plate are formed withcentral openings receiving the hub or stud 12 and constituting bearingsfor supporting the reel. The spring-motor 7 is arranged Within thecupshaped portion of the reel, and the tape is Wound upon the cup. Thedisk or plate 20 is secured to the open end of the cup-shaped portion ofthe reel by soldering or otherwise and projects slightly beyond theperiphery of the cup to retain the tape upon the cup or drum when beingwound or unwound. This retaining-plate may be of any desired formtorepresent one or more tools or implementssuch, for instance, as a saw,as shown in the drawin sand this particular tape-measure is there oreadapted as an advertising novelty for saw manufacturers but it isevident that the retaining-plate may be made to represent pulleys,files, and other useful implements which are made and carried in stockby different manufacturers, each manufacturer having a retaining-diskadapted to advertise his particular line of manufacture, and this may bereadily seen through the transparent side of the case which is theobject sought.

Having thus described my invention, what by said plate, the celluloidcovering 10 having its marginal edge turned over upon the marginalflange of said disk, the reel 6 mounted 35 'on said hub, the tape 5wound on said reel,

the ring 13 having an inturned marginal edge, and the celluloid covering16 having its marginal edge turned over and inwardly upon the inturnededge of'said plate 13, sub, 4.0 stantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day ofJune,-1904.

JOHN MoLEAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. BATCHUM, FRED B.-REIMERs.

